Going to Chichen Itza? Here’s what to expect

Traveling to a foreign country with your best friend is an experience that I recommend to everyone! Steph and I were determined to truly immerse ourselves in Mexico’s heritage. Mexico’s history with rich with Mayan culture. As such, we made a point to see Chichen Itza, home to the largest Mayan pyramid the region of Yucatan, Mexico and it also happens to be one of the seven wonders of the world!

How to plan your excursion

We planned out excursion to Chichen Itza through our resort. In doing so, you will be provided transportation to and from Chichen Itza, a box lunch, a stop to do some local shopping and a chance to swim at the Mayan Sacred Cenote! Be sure to get to your hotel lobby on time the of your excursion. Refunds are not given and the bus will leave without you if you are not there!

Little girl, big pyramid! Say hello to El Castillo. It’s the biggest pyramid in Chichen Itza and one of 7 wonders of the world!

What to wear

Knowing that we going swimming at the Cenote, Steph and I wore our swimsuits under our clothes. The only problem is that we wore cotton. Since it gets really hot in-land, I recommend that you wear cool gear. Also be sure to bring your sneakers-you are going to be doing a lot of walking! Plus, you can still look fashionable in cool gear in my option. 😉 Below are some of my favorite pieces that I am crushing on.

What to bring

Bring your camera, you are not going to want to miss getting photos of the ruins! Bring plenty of water, sunscreen and bug spray. Also be sure to bring cash with you (I bought about $50 with me). It helps if you have mexican pesos with you but do not fret if you are not able to get some. I only have US dollars and did just fine. We were able to do some shopping before we got to the ruins. From hand painted pottery to hats and t-shirts, thesis a great place to stock up on souvenirs for yourself and your family. In case you forget to bring water, there is a snack stand right in front of El Castillo (the biggest pyramid) where bottles of water, snacks and ice cream is sold.

What to expect

As one of the seven wonders of the world, Chichen Itza will be sure to take your breath away. This one in a life time experience is an all day excursion. So be prepared to be pretty tried (but amazed) when you get back to your resort. You will get a chance to have a guided tour from natives of Chichen Itza (one of our guides is Mayan and even spoke their native tongue). While our guide was not an archeologist, he was someone who had a passion and love for Mayan culture. Through his incredible story-telling, Steph and I really had a chance to immerse ourselves in Mayan traditions, archeology, and history. Because these man made structures are made out of limestone, we were not able to climb any of the pyramids. It turns out limestone does not take to heat and humidity well!

Rear facing side of El Castillo. Due to the humidity in Mexico, this side of the pyramid is starting to fall apart little by little.

Swimming at the Cenote was the best way to end the trip. The water was not cold at all to my surprise. If you are not a strong swimmer or have trouble treading water, I would recommend you use one of the floatys. Since you are swimming in fresh water, it’s a little more work to stay afloat. If you do not want to go swimming, you can kick back and relax on a Mayan-made hammock. These hand woven hammocks are designed to keep you comfortable and cool!

Have you ever been to Chichen Itaza before? Tell me about your experience by commenting below!